Leg-rest actuating linkage for multiple-position reclining chair



Filed Aug. 11, 1959 Nov. 21, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,009,736 LEGREST ACTUATING LINKAGE FOR MULTIPLE-POSITION RECLINING CHAIR 5 SheetsSheet 1 FIG. I.

- IN VEN TOR.

FR/DTJOF E SCAM IEPl/ACAE 4 TT'OQNE MS Nov. 21, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,

LEG-REST ACTUATING LINKAGE FOR MULTIPLE-POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Filed Aug. 11, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. F/Q/DTJOF F: \SCA/Z/EPHACKE BYM Y V ATTGRNEYJ Nov. 21, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,009,736

LEG-REST ACTUATING LINKAGE FOR MULTIPLEFPOSITION RECLINING CHAIR Filed Aug. 11, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR. FR/DTJOF E sew/[#04 ck g mma 3,069,736 LEG-REST ACTUATRNG LINKAGE FOR MULTI- PLE-PDSHTIQN RECLINING CHAIR Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schmargendort, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz Filed Aug. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 833,090 7 Claims. (Cl. 297-83) The present invention relates to improvements in multiple-position reclining chairs, and in particular relates to new and improved leg-rest actuating means for such type of chairs.

Multiple-position reclining chairs are characterized by their ability to be brought to a number of distinct bodysupporting positions in response to rearward pressure of the occupant against the back-rest. Typical of such multip'le position chairs is the so-called two position chair which features a body supporting unit in the nature of a rigidly-formed seat and back-rest mounted on the chair frame for movement through a first motion phase to an intermediate tilted position, and for further movement through a second motion phase to a fullytilted position. In the intermediate tilted position, the body-supporting unit is only slightly tilted, and the occupants body is still in a substantially upright position with the eyes forwardly directed for viewing television, reading, etc. In the fuflly-tilted position, the occupants body is in a more supine attitude for increased relaxation.

A feature of two-position chairs of the type described is the provision of a leg-rest which is movable from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat. The leg-rest movement is produced by actuating means which is associated with the body-supporting unit in such a manner as to move the leg-rest to its extended position during the initial mot on phase. Thus, when the body-supporting unit arrives at its intermediate tilted position, the leg-rest is in the extended position whereby to support the outstretched legs of the occupant. The actuating means must also be adapted to maintain the leg-rest in a leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat when the body-supporting unit is brought to its fully-tilted position.

The construction of leg-rest actuating means for multiple position chairs is complicated by the fact that during the first motion phase the leg-rest must be moved rapidly through a relatively long path of travel to its extended position in response to a much shorter movement of the body supporting unit to its intermediate tilted position. During the second motion phase, however, the leg-rest must have little or no movement so that it is still disposed in a leg-supporting position when the bodysupporting unit arrives at its fully-tilted position.

To achieve the aforementioned function, especiallydevised leg-rest actuating means must be provided. An object of the present invention is the provision of a leg rest actuating means which will operate in this manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of leg-rest actuating means of the character described which is simple in operation and consists of a minimum number of parts, resulting in economy of manufacture with efiicient operation.

In accordance with the invention, the leg-rest actuating means is provided in a two-position chair in which the body-supporting unit is mounted on a carrier member by a p@' of guide links for movement through the first motion phase, the carrier member being pivotally mounted on the chair frame and movable on its pivotal mount durim the second motion phase. The leg-rest actuating means includes an actuating link pivotally mounted on the carrier member and connected at one end to the leg-rest and at the other end toone of the 3,009,736 l atented Nov. 21, 1961 guide links. The actuating link is pivoted by its connected guide link during the first motion phase to ra se the leg-rest. In one form of the invention shown herein, the guide link exerts a pulling force on the actuating link, and in another form, also shown herein, the guide link exerts a pushing force on the actuating link, bot-h for purposes of raising the leg-rest to its extended position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanyiug drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating one form of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in an upright sitting position;

'FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in its intermediate tilted position with the leg-rest extended in its leg-supporting position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in its fully-tilted position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating a modified type of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational View of the chair shown in FIG. 4, with the chair shown in its intermediate tilted position; and,

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 4, but showing the chair thereof in its fully-tilted position with the leg-rest maintained in its extended leg-supporting position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-3, the reclining chair shown therein comprises a base or support frame designated generally by the reference numeral lo and having spaced side walls 12 interconnected by cross bars or braces-14 and 16. The chair also includes a body-supporting unit, designated generally by the reference numeral 18, and comprising a seat 20 and a back-rest 22 formed rigidly with each other. The body-supporting unit 18 is movably mounted on the support frame 10 for movement relative thereto from the upright sitting position of FIG. 1 to the active intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, and then to an inactive fully-tilted position shown in FIG. 3. The mounting of the body-supporting unit 13 on the support frame 10 is accomplished by a pairof guide links 24 and 26.

The chair also includes a carrier member or support bar designated generally by the reference numeral 30 which is formed with a rear leg 32 and an upwardly-extending front leg 34. At is rear end, the rear leg 32 is mounted by pivot 36 on the support frame 10. The pair of guide links 24 and 26 are pivotally connected at spaced points on the seat 20 by respective pivots 38 and 40, and at their lower ends are mounted at spaced points on the rear leg 32 of the carrier member 30 by respective pivots 42 and 44. The first guide link 24 has an integral upper extension 24a which projects upwardly beyond the pivot 38 and is employed in actuating the leg-rest, in a manner which will be presently explained.

The chair also includes a leg-rest 46 which is mounted by pivot 48 on the forward end of the seat 20.; The legrest 46 is thus adapted to swing about said pivot 48 from the retracted position beneath the seat 20, shown in FIG. 1, to the extended position forwardly of the seat, shown in FIG. 2. This swinging movement of the leg-rest 46 is accomplished by a leg-rest actuating linkage, designated generally by the reference numeral 50, when the body supporting unit 18' moves relative to the carrier member 36).

The leg-rest actuating linkage 50 includes an actuating link 52 in the form of a lever mounted intermediate its ends by a pivot 54 on the free end of the carrier member front leg 34. The upper end of said actuating link 52 is connected by pivot 56 to one end of a control link 58, the other end of which is connected by pivot 60 to the upper extension 24a of guide link 24. The lower end of actuating link 52 is connected by pivot 62 to one end of a link 64. The other end of said link 64 is connected to an intermediate point on the leg-rest 46 by pivot 66.

In the upright sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 1, the carrier member 30 rests upon the front cross bar 14 to provide a rigid support for the body-supporting unit 18. The guide links 24 and 26 are in an upright position and slightly forwardly inclined, and the leg-rest 46 is in a retracted position extending downwardly beneath the forward end of the seat 20.

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest 22, the guide links 24 and 26 turn rearwardly about their pivotal mounts 42 and 44 on the carrier member 30 to bring the body-supporting unit 18 to its intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2. In this connection, it will be noted that the front guide link 24 is longer than the rear guide link 26, so that the front guide link raises the forward portion of the seat while the rear guide link 26 lowers the rear portion of said seat. The body-supporting unit 18 is therefore moved rearwardly and simultaneously tilted.

The intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 is determined by the engagement of the rear guide link 26 with a "stop plate 68' on the rear end portion of the carrier mem- 'ber rear leg 32, the stop plate 68 preventing further turning movement of the guide links 24 and 26 relative to the carrier member 30. Thus, in the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the body-supporting unit 18 is rigidly coupled to the carrier member As the front guide link 24 moves rearwardly in the first motion phase about pivot 42 to bring the body-supporting unit 18 to its intermediate tilted position, it draws the control link 58 rearwardly with it. The rearward movement of the control link 58 pulls the upper end of actuating link 52 rearwardly, causing said actuating link 52 to turn about its pivotal mount 54 on the forward end of the carrier member 30. The lower end portion of actuating link 52 thus moves forwardly, carrying the link 64 with it and thereby causing the leg-rest 46 to turn around the pivot 48 until it is raised to its extended posi tion of FIG. 2 wherein it is positioned to support the legs of the chair occupant.

It will be observed that in the active or intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the body-supporting unit 18 is only slightly tilted and the occupants body is supported in a substantially upright attitude suitable for reading, viewing television, or the like. At the same time the legrest 46 is fully extended and properly positioned to support the outstretched legs of the occupant. This is because the front guide link 24a moves a greater distance rearwardly than the seat 20, and thereby imparts a greater actuating force to the leg-rest linkage 50.

It will be appreciated that the control link 58 can be connected to any point on the front guide link 24, for example an intermediate point or at the pivotal connection 38 between the guide link 24 and the seat 20. The control link 58' may also be connected in a similar manner to the rear guide link 26 or to a portion of the seat 20. Where no amplified movement is provided by an upper extension of one of the guide links, however, the long leg-rest movement may be provided by making the upper portion of the actuating link 52 shorter than the lower arm thereof.

Should the occupant of the chair, in the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, wish to assume a more reclined position for greater relaxation, he need only apply further rearward pressure against the back-rest 22, to bring the body-supporting unit 16 to the fully tilted position of FIG. 3. The rearward shift of the occupants weight changes the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causes the carrier member 30 to turn in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, about the pivotal mount 36. The forward end of the carrier member 30 is therefore raised relative to the support frame 10, and since the body-supporting unit 18 is now rigidly coupled to the carrier member 36, said body-supporting unit is lifted by the carrier member and tilted further rearwardly about the fixed pivot 36 to the fully reclined position shown in FIG. 3. This position is determined and limited by engagement of the rear portion of the seat 20 with the rear cross bar 16.

Since the bodysupporting unit 18 is rigidly coupled with the carrier member 30 by engagement of the rear guide link 26 with the stop plate 68, there is no relative movement of the body-supporting unit and carrier member during this second phase of movement from the intermediatev tilted position of FIG. 2 to the fully-tilted position of FIG. 3. The leg-rest is therefore maintained in its extended position when the body-supporting unit arrives at the fully-tilted position.

To return from the fully-tilted position to the inter mediate tilted position, it is only necessary for the occupant to shift his weight forwardly, thereby moving forward the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causing the latter to turn forwardly about the pivot 36 until it again reaches the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2. To return from the intermediate tilted position to the upright sitting position, the occupant need merely apply downward pressure on the leg-rest 46, this pressure causing the body-supporting unit 18 to move forwardly on the guide links 24 and 26.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 46, there is shown a reclining chair incorporating a modified type of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention. Similar parts are given like reference numerals, except in this instance the numerals are part of a series. The reclining chair illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 again comprises a base or support frame designated generally by the reference numeral 130, which includes spaced side walls 112 interconnected by cross bars or braces 114 and 116. The chair again includes a body-supporting unit, designated generally by the reference numeral 118, and comprising a seat 120 and a back-rest 122 formed rigidly with each other. The body-supporting unit 118 is movably mounted by a pair of guide links 124 and 126 on the support frame for movement relative thereto from the upright sitting position of FIG. 4 to the active intermediate tilted position of FIG. 5, and then to an inactive fully-tilted position shown in FIG. 6.

The chair structure again includes a carrier member or support bar, designated generally by the reference numeral 130, which has a rear leg 132 and an upwardlyextending front leg 134. At its rear end, the rear leg 132 is mounted by pivot 136 on the support frame 110. The pair of guide links 124 and 126 are pivotally connected at spaced points on the seat by respective pivots 138 and 149. The lower end of the front guide link 124 is mounted by pivot 142 on the rear leg 132 of the carrier member 130. The lower end of the rear guide link 126 is mounted by pivot 136 on the carrier member so that its connection with the carrier member is coaxial with the pivotal mount of the carrier member on the support frame 110. The front guide link 124 has a lower integral extension 1241; which depends below its pivotal mount 142.

A leg-rest 146 is swingably mounted by pivot 148 on the forward end of the seat 124?. This movement of the leg-rest is controlled by a leg-rest actuating linkage 150 which is operative in response to movement of the bodysupporting unit, 118 during the first motion phase, to

move the leg-rest 146 from its retracted position of FIG. 4 to its extended leg-supporting position of FIG. 5.

The leg-rest actuating linkage 150 includes an actuating link 152, which in this instance is mounted at its upper end by pivot 154 on the free end of the carrier member front leg 134. A pivot 156 connects an intermediate point on the'actuating link 152 to one end of a control link 158, the other end of which is connected by pivot 166 to the lower extension 1241; of the front guide link 124. The lower end of actuating link 152 is connected by pivot 162 to one end of a link 16 4, the other end of which link is connected by pivot 166 to an intermediate point on the leg-rest 146.

In the upright sitting position of the chair, shown in FIG. 4, the carrier member 130 rests upon the front crossbar 114 to support the body-supporting unit 118. The guide links 124 and 126 are upstanding and slightly forwardly inclined, while the leg-rest 146 is in a retracted position extending downwardly beneath the forward end of the seat 121).

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest 122, the guide links 124 and 126 turn rearwardly about the pivotal mounts 142 and 136 on the carrier member 131 to bring the body-supporting unit 18 to its intermediate tilted position of FIG. 5. This intermediate tilted position is determined bythe engagement of the front guide link 124 with a stop plate 170, which in this instance is located on an intermediate portion of the carrier member rear leg 132, directly behind the front guide link 124.

In moving the body-supporting unit 118 rearwardly to its intermediate tilted position, the front guide link 124 turns rearwardly about its pivotal mount 142 on the carrier member 130, and its lower extension 1241: thereby moves in a forward direction. The extension 124b therefore exerts a pushing force on the control link 158, which in turn exerts a pushing force on the intermediate point 156 of the actuating link 152. The actuating link 152 thus pivots upwardly and forwardly about its pivotal mount 154 on the carrier member 136, and its lower end carries link 164 in a forward and upward direction to raise the leg-rest 146 to its extended position of FIG. 5.

It will be observed, that in the actuating linkage 151) of FIGS. 4-6, the lower extension 12% of the front guide link 124 exerts a pushing force on the control link 158, and the latter serves as a pusher link to pivot the actuating ling 152 and thereby raise the leg-rest. In the actuating linkage 50 of FIGS. 1-3, on the other hand, the upper extension of the front guide link exerted a pulling force on the control link, the latter serving as a pull link and transmitting its pulling force to the actuating link which acted as a double-arm lever.

It is obvious that the rear guide link 126 could be provided with a lower extension instead of the front guide lmk 124. In this instance, the control link 158 would simply be made longer and connected to the lower extension of the rear guide link in the same manner as it is shown connected to the front guide link.

In the active or intermediate tilted position of FIG. 5, the body-supporting unit 118 is only slightly tilted and the occupants body is supported in a substantially upright attitude suitable for reading, viewing television, or the like. The leg-rest 146 is, however, already fully ex tended and properly positioned to support the outstretched legs of the occupant.

To bring the body-supporting unit 118 to a fully-tilted position, it is only necessary for the occupant to exert further rearward pressure against the back-rest 122. The rearward shift of the occupants weight changes the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causes the carrier member 130 to turn about the pivotal mount 136. The forward end of the carrier member 130 therefore rises relative to the support frame 110 and carries the body-supporting unit 118 in its second phase of motion about the fixed pivot 136 to the fully reclined position,

shown in 'FIG. 6, which is determined by engagement of the'rear portion of the seat with the rear cross ba 116. I

During movement of the unit 118 from the intermediate tilted position to the fully tilted position, the body supporting unit 118 is rigidly coupled with the carrier member by engagement of the front guide link 124 with the stop plate 170, and there is thus no relative movement of the front guide link and carrier member during this second phase of movement. The leg-rest 146 is therefore maintained immovable in its extended position at the fully-tilted position of the body-supporting unit.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous additions, changes and omissions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a multiple position reclining chair having a support frame, a body-supporting unit, a carrier member movably mounted on the support frame, and front and rear guide means movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the carrier member for rearward movement relative to said carrier member, said guide means including a front guide link having a first pivotal connection to the carrier member and a second pivotal connection to the body supporting unit, the body-supporting unit being moved by said guide means relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase in which the front guide link pivots rearwardly about its pivotal connection with the carrier member, and the carrier member moving relative to the support during a second motion phase; a leg-rest swingably mounted on the forward end portion of the seat, and leg-rest actuating means for moving the leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit, during said first motion phase, said actuating means including a rigid extension of said front guide link projecting beyond one of the pivotal connections of said front guide link, an actuating link pivotally mounted on the forward end of said carrier member, a control link connecting said guide link extension with said actuating link, and means connecting a spaced point on said actuating link with said legrest.

2. In a multiple position reclining chair having a support frame, a body-supporting unit, a carrier member movably mounted on the support frame, and front and rear guide means including at least one guide link movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the carrier member for rearward movement relative to said carrier member, said guide means including a front guide link having a pivotal mount on the carrier member and a pivotal connection with the body-supporting unit, the body-supporting unit being moved by said guide means relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase in which the front guide link pivots rearwardly about its pivotal mount on the carrier member, and the carrier member moving relative to the support during a second motion phase; a leg-rest swingably mounted on the forward end portion of the seat, and leg-rest actuating means for moving the leg-rest froma retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit during said first motion phase, said actuating means including a rigid extension of said front guide link projecting beyond the pivotal connection of said front guide link with the body-supporting unit, an actuating link pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the forward end of said carreir member, a control link connecting said guide link extension with one end portion of the actuating link, and a link connecting the other end portion of said actuating ilnk with said leg-rest.

3. In a multiple position reclining chair having a sup port frame, a body-supporting. unit, a carrier member movably mounted on the support frame, and front and rear guide means 'movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the carrier member for rearward movement relative to said carrier member, said guide means including a front guide link having a pivotal mount on the carrier member and a pivotal connection with the body-supporting unit, the body-supporting unit being moved by said guide means relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase in which the front guide ink pivots rearwardly about its pivotal mount on the carrier member, and the carrier member moving relative to the support during a second motion phase; a leg-rest pivotally mounted on the forward end portion of the seat, and legrest actuating means for moving the leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit during said first motion phase, said actuating means including a rigid extension of said front guide link projecting beyond the pivotal mount of said front guide link on the carrier member, an actuating link pivotally mounted at one end on the forward end of said carrier member, a control link connecting said guide link extension with an intermediate portion of said actuating link, and a link connecting the other end of said actuatnig link with said leg-rest.

4. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit, a carrier member pivotally mounted at its rear end on the support frame, guide means comprising front and rear guide links movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the carrier member, said guide links being pivotally connected at spaced points to the carrier member and pivotally connected at spaced points to the body-supporting unit, the body-supporting unit being moved by said guide links relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase in which both guide links pivot rearwardly, and the carrier member moving relative to the support during a second motion phase in which said guide links and bodysupporting unit are immovable relative to the carrier member, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the forward end portion of the seat, and leg-rest actuating means for moving the leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the bodysupporting unit during said first motion phase, said actuating means including a rigid extension of the front guide link projecting beyond one of the pivotal connections of said front guide link, an actuating link pivotally mounted on the forward end of said carrier member, a control link connecting said guide link extension with said actuating link, and coupling means connecting a spaced point on said actuating link with said leg-rest.

5. A multiple position reclining chair according to claim 4 in which said carrier member carries an immovable stop member located behind said front guide link, said stop member being positioned to engage said front guide link at the end of said first motion phase and rigid ly couple the body-supporting unit wtih the carrier member during the second motion phase.

6. A multiple position reclining chair according to claim 4 in which said extension projects above the pivotal connection of said frontrguide link with the bodysupporting unit, and in which said actuating link is a doublearmed lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said carrier member, the control link connecting one arm of the lever with said extension, and the coupling means connecting the other arm of said lever with said leg-rest at a point below the mount of the latter on the seat.

7. A multiple position reclining chair according to claim 4 in which said extension projects below the pivotal connection of said front guide link with the carrier member, and in which said actuating link is mounted at its top end on said carrier member, the control link connecting an intermediate point on said actuating member with said extension, and the coupling means connecting the bottom end of said actuating link with said legrest at a point below the mount of the latter on the seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,952,376 Knabusch et al. Mar. 27, 1934 2,672,919 Luckhardt Mar. 23, 1954 2,918,113 Lorenz Dec. 22, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 807,708 Great Britain Ian. 21, 1959 

